The Deceptive Lady Darby (Lost Ladies of London 2)

He waited for her to close the door before moving to the armoire. Tapping his foot on the floorboards to the left, he found the one he wanted and prised it loose. With his cheek pressed flat to the floor, he ferreted about inside the gap and pulled out a book with a blue cover.

“This is what I stole from Mama’s room.” Jacob blew dust and cobwebs off the surface and handed it to her. “When a letter came, she always left the house in a hurry.”

“Is that why you stole them?” She opened the cover of what looked like a small ledger. One would need a magnifying glass to read the writing with it being so small. Hidden between the pages, she found a handful of letters. The broken red seals bore no identifying marks. “Did you read them?”

“I tried.”

No doubt as his reading progressed so did his understanding of the context.

“May I read them?” Every fibre of her being told her to hand them back, to nail the board to the floor and never speak of them again. “You have my word I’ll not reveal their contents without your permission.”

Jacob’s small hand settled on her arm. “Don’t tell Papa. It will make him sad again.”

Her heart grew heavy. A child should not have to live with such pressure on his shoulders. A man deserved to have peace in his life, to have some semblance of happiness, too.

With some trepidation, she removed a letter, tucked the book under her arm and scanned the missive. She would have described it as a love letter, except the contents focused on the gratuitous aspects of a physical relationship. A blush rose to her cheeks. Heavens. What would a child make of such vulgar language?

“I understand why you didn’t want to show them to your father.” Indeed, once she’d gained Jacob’s permission, how was she to explain them to Lord Farleigh?

The absence of a signature was not surprising. The gentleman in question thought nothing of sending them to Lady Farleigh’s home. In itself, it spoke of conceit and arrogance.

“Mama kept them in the drawer next to her bed.”

Oh, the poor mite. How had he kept them a secret all this time? Children struggled to hold their own water let alone something so damning. But of course. The last thing Jacob wanted was to hurt his father.

“Why did you keep them in here? Did you not worry your governess might find them?”

Was that another reason he chased the women away?

“No one would look in here unless the governess was ill.”

“And a governess is never in the house long enough to catch the mystery illness.” All parts of the puzzle seemed to be coming together. “You could have burned them. Your father knew nothing of the letters.”

Jacob’s gaze shifted about the room. He stepped forward and whispered, “A lady died in the woods, just like Mama. I think the letters might say why but I don’t understand all the words.”

Rose closed her eyes for a moment. Two women had died in the woods? She’d assumed Lady Farleigh died of an illness. No wonder his lordship insisted on an escort to Morton Manor.

“What if I read the letters? I shall only mention the important things to your father.”

Jacob pursed his lips.

“Is it not better I explain their contents than him reading them himself?” she added. The thought of Lord Farleigh discovering the depth of his wife’s deception chilled her bones. “What do you say?”

“Don’t make him sad. He likes you. Tell—”

The loud rap on the door made them both jump. Rose placed the letter back inside the book and clutched it to her chest just as Mrs Hibbet entered.

“Here you are. We’ve been looking everywhere. Dr Taylor is here to examine Jacob.”

Dr Taylor hovered at the door. The furrows on his brow marred his usually bright countenance. “I cannot tell you how relieved I am to hear of the child's speedy recovery. But it is wise to be prudent. Perhaps we should retire to the comfort of the child’s bedchamber.”

“Of course.” With a tight grip on the book, Rose took Jacob’s hand and followed Mrs Hibbet and the doctor down to the first floor.

They all paused outside the door to Jacob’s room.

“Would you care to be present while I examine the boy?” Dr Taylor’s gaze drifted over her face before falling to the blue ledger. “Mrs Hibbet will stay of course.”

“Thank you, but I must see to Alice. I’m sure she would appreciate a distraction after such a dreadful shock.”